FR2586470A1 - VENTILATED CENTRAL ELEMENT FOR SERVICE CONNECTIONS - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO AN APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING AND PROVIDING POWER SUPPLY CONNECTIONS TO A SUBDIVIDED WORKSPACE. THIS APPLIANCE INCLUDES: A 20 ENCLOSURE WITH WALLS TO ENCLOSE AT LEAST PARTLY AN ELECTRICAL SUPPLY INLET; A WORKSPACE FAN 60 MOUNTED IN A SIDE WALL OF THE ENCLOSURE, TO EXTRACT AIR FROM THE WORKSPACE TO A BEDROOM DEFINED BY THE WALLS OF THE ENCLOSURE; AN AIR FILTER MOUNTED IN ONE OF THE ENCLOSURE WALLS, THIS AIR FILTER CLEANS THE AIR EXTRACTED BY THE FAN AND RETURNS AIR INTO THE WORKSPACE; AND AT LEAST ONE ELECTRICAL OUTLET MOUNTED IN ONE OF THE WALLS OF THE ENCLOSURE. APPLICATION TO LANDSCAPE OFFICES.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of service connections for

  workspace and workspace fans, and more particularly an autonomous workspace element that provides service connections without being connected to building ventilation equipment. The prior art describes various systems in which service connections are provided for modular partitions, desks and other workspaces. The US patent

  4,353,411 to Harter et al discloses a system in which

  Heating, ventilation and air conditioning are provided by a central column. Walls, panels, desks and ventilated floors are described in various patents, for example U.S. Patents 3,789,747, Wasserman et al (wall panels), 4,015,397, Flachbarth et al (connections).

  electric), and 3,462,892, Meyer (medical units). Such arrangements

  are useful for providing a convenient connection to various services that can be shared across multiple spaces

working neighbors.

  In US Pat. No. 3,856,981 to Boundy, power lines from a hollow ceiling are routed through

  through a flexible central pipe towards

  electrical terminal connections provided in a wall element. This patent discloses electrical wires including telephone wires disposed in the conduit for connecting a convenient location on the wall panel, near the floor, to such power supplies. U.S. Patent 3,698,104 to Sutton involves a portable study block in which a plurality of angularly spaced work spaces with a space provided for a table or desk are defined by partition walls radiating from a column central hexagonal. This device uses the inside of the center column to house film projectors. In US Pat. No. 4,378,727 to Doss, a block system is provided with ventilation equipment whereby the blocks are connected by means of various pipes to the system.

  ventilation of the building in which the blocks are located.

  None of the foregoing documents, including US Pat. No. 4,378,727, disclose a column of portable service connections capable of providing convenient service connections and

  ventilation connections which effectively cooperate with

  with the ventilation and condition heating system.

  of a building, but are also independent of it

  pendent. None describe the benefits of a zone element

  lable independently from the building HVAC equipment of a building by

air ducts.

  Electronic data processing equipment

  modern, although improved compared to earlier

  still give off a considerable amount of heat. In addition, computers and such equipment are increasingly used in office environments of all kinds. Such systems require many electrical connections to power electronic units and may also require wires to connect these elements to each other so that they can communicate with each other or with a central memory device such as a disk storage. . In the abovementioned US Pat. No. 4,353,411 to Harter, a hollow floor contains a connection for a building HVAC supply, and in Curran US Pat. No. 3,366,364 a multi-purpose hollow floor including integrally connected conduits is disclosed. . Hollow floors and the like are very useful and effective for housing supply lines and means of

  communication, in particular electrical means. The incon-

  the hollow floor devices is a very important cost and once the openings or connection receptacles are located in the hollow floor, it is usually difficult or impossible to

  change the location of the work areas.

  In these typical office establishments, there is rarely an opportunity to significantly reshape the workspace or office space configuration to accommodate

  future needs for service connections,

  processing and data processing and the like in

  permanently installed or hollow floor pipes.

  Instead, a typical establishment is usually located in rented premises suitable for a general purpose and not equipped with

  particular connections or conduit support means.

  As the data processing terminals become more and more frequent, it can happen in an office space that not only the available lines but also the ventilation system is saturated. Hollow ceilings are often used instead of hollow floors for

  receive various electrical paths and the like. Con-

  electrical connections which "fall" from the ceiling, for example from semi-permanent electrical columns with one or more power supply receptacles, are inexpensive and

  in common use to provide electrical connections. The relationship

  flexibility of such electrical connections differs

  piping systems for ventilation equipment.

  lation. While additional power lines can

  to go through the ceiling, ie to process additional charges

  (may be by requiring improved service to allow for additional current flow at the power input connection) increases in ventilation heating and air handling loads are a problem. Adding pipes involves more space and weight than wires. If, in an office building located in an old rental building or a general purpose space, it is desired to install a word processor or small computing machines in some of the work areas, the heat generation added by these bodies may be saturate the building's heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems and probably saturate these systems at least in localized areas, for example at treatment stations

  of text in which are located heating charges.

  It is not easy to move air ducts into a workspace. The location of electrical loads hinders the practical application of a building's ventilation system's ability to handle localized accumulations that can occur at heat source concentrations. In addition, building standards define certain standards of

  flow and noise in ventilation equipment where it results

  even if there is room, it is often not possible

  to add additional ventilation ducts and air outlets

  additional to existing ventilation devices. Thus, even if the prior art has arrived at various means of bringing power supplies to localized workstations and has also provided means for connecting a work space to a heating, ventilation and conditioning equipment. air of a building, there remains a need to deal with localized heat accumulated areas without unduly multiplying the number of connections and access passages

an office.

  The protection of non-smokers from smokers (and vice versa) suggests that ventilation should be as complete and individualized as possible. The need to avoid adding unnecessary pipes and other ventilation to heating, ventilation and conditioning equipment

  the air of a building opposes the need for individual fans

  ized. Some states even have rules and regulations that prohibit smoking in general work areas. If the

  Smoking is allowed, areas must be ventilated.

  A modern trend in furniture and layout

  offices is to use small semi-work

  which may possibly be moved. These speakers are distributed using low separation panels (1.50m to 1.80m). Preferably, the workspaces are small and efficient. Unfortunately, these small speakers are even more likely to focus and locate heat. Such systems of the prior art have proven to be at least inadequate. The present invention provides service connections

  direct electrical and individually controllable ventilation

  for a plurality of working chambers arranged around a central core in the form of a hollow vertical column or cabin. Workers placed around a column have individually controllable ventilation inlets in the column to remove heat and / or smoke from their workplace. The ventilation load from

  grouped workplaces is centrally filtered and discharged

  above the low partition walls defining the workplaces. This centralized discharge tends to lighten and displace the local heat concentrations in the working areas of the group, from the air to an average temperature being then released.

  in the common ventilated area. The heating system of the

  furniture, which is not directly connected to the ventilation system according to the invention can be operated at an average rate. As long as no connection via pipes needs to be made

  with the heating system of the building, it is not neces-

  in practice, or in accordance with building standards, to increase

  Maintain the air circulation capacity of the building's system

  or modify any existing conduct. These advantages combine

  with a complete individual control of the ventilation

  in individual work areas.

  The central ventilation unit according to the invention is preferably polygonal in plan view, for example triangular, square, hexagonal, octagonal etc., being fixed to the ends of partitions extending radially from the polygon to divide

  the surrounding area in workspaces. Spatial groupings

  these central work can be arranged very closely

  others and linked to vertical service columns

  electrical, telephone and other power connections

  communication possibilities, eg to the ceiling or the floor. Only the electrical connections need to be centralized, these being made accessible by plugs, plugs, etc., mounted in the workspaces. Ventilation requirements are individualized at

  level of workstations and centralized by the action of

central latters.

  An object of the present invention is to provide convenient ventilation of individual areas without significantly increasing

  noticeable the load of the ventilation system of a building.

  Another object of the present invention is to allow a maximum concentration of workspaces without resulting in difficulties related to the concentration of the connections of

  service and supply to these spaces.

  Another object of the present invention is to enable

  moving workspaces with a minimum of inconvenience

vantages.

  Another object of the present invention is to improve the environment of low-cost workspaces by providing for

  an individualized ventilation and temperature control.

  These objects as well as others are reached by a

  central element to ventilate locally and ensure

  electrical connections with the workspaces distributed around this central element. The workspaces are each equipped with devices for electrical terminals and air intake. The central element comprises a cabin having walls adapted to at least partially surround electrical supply lines such as a service column. A workspace fan is mounted in a side wall of the cabin, the fan

  workspace that can operate under the control of the use of

  user to extract air from the work space to a room defined by the walls of the cabin. The air is returned to a common area above the workspace. An air filter is mounted on one of the walls of the cabin, the air filter acting to clean the air extracted by the fan and returned to the workspace. The terminal devices provide a convenient connection with the service column through the cab, while the cab operates as a ventilation unit of

local area and air filtering.

  These objects, features and benefits as well as

  others will be illustrated in more detail in the description

  of particular embodiments for illustrative purposes.

  and non-limiting in connection with the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a unit with multiple work areas using the central element according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view partially broken away of an alternative embodiment of the central element; Figure 3 is a partial cutaway view of another embodiment; and FIG. 4 is a top view showing a

  plurality of central elements, work areas and

  ventilation characteristics of a building.

  Figure 1 shows an installation of multiple workstations according to the invention. A plurality of work areas 32 is defined by partition members substantially

  radials 22 which radiate from a central element 20. The

  20 is disposed so as to surround a service line 30, which may be a pillar carrying electrical lines from a hollow ceiling as shown, or may be a pillar completely surrounded by the walls 28 and the top

24 of the central element 20.

  The central element according to the invention constitutes a means

  to distribute electrical connections, for example

  nexions including a clean power supply 44, a non-powered

  protected 42 and telephone and / or data connections 46.

  In addition, the central element 20 serves as a ventilation element

  located in the working areas 32 surrounding the area.

  20, the central element comprising means fed to extract air via the side walls 28 of the element 20 and return the air, preferably after filtering, by

  the top 24 of the element 20 above the level of the partitions 22.

  Various configurations of partitioning of workspaces are possible. For reasons of efficiency, it is desirable to position the individual work spaces 32 close to each other and near the service line 30. It is also desirable for reasons of efficiency and effectiveness.

  the costs of providing each of the workspaces 32 with the various acces-

  which may be useful to the worker, including

  benchmarks, a supply of supplies, possibilities

  communication and the like. As a result, although

  particular work space may vary,

  each generally includes a horizontal work surface

  tale 100, lower storage areas 106 and shelves

higher 114.

  Locating all these accessories for the

  worker using modular workplace elements.

  laires is effective for reasons of space and accessibility.

  Modular work spaces also save time in that the worker can reach any desired equipment from his seat 102. The disadvantage of these devices is that they inherently confine workers and their equipment in a relatively small environment. . The heat that accumulates, for example as a result of the treatment terminals 104, the electric typewriters 118 and any lighting and electrical equipment, as well as the animal heat of the worker, can accumulate at the level of the storage spaces. 32. Smokers also consider that the smoke from their 112 cigarettes remains fairly concentrated in the work area. For these reasons, and because

  thermal loads produced at indi-

  32 can vary significantly, it is not easily possible to handle the heat, ventilation and air conditioning needs of individual workspaces 32

without taking special care.

  According to the invention, each worker is provided with an individually controlled ventilation means which interfaces with the central element but is not directly connected to the heating, ventilation and conditioning ducts.

  (HVAC) of the building as a whole. The effect of this system

  The problem is that the localized heating loads at the individual work stations 32 are accumulated in a chamber.

  defined by the cab and converted into a general thermal load

  less localized in the area immediately below

  22. The more generalized load is easily handled by the HVAC general system of the building. It is not necessary to provide a direct interface with this system and

  There is no need to route air ducts to the

  work place. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a central unit

  rectangular or square in top view. The top 24 is represented

  slightly raised walls 28. The walls 28 and the access panel 26 are shown cutaway. In practice,

  walls 28 and the top 24 define an at least partial chamber.

  in which air is attracted by means of ventilation.

  60 controllable controllers individually. The fans 60 are started and stopped by a switch 62 located in the zones

  32. Fans 60 are preferably

  at least slightly above the surfaces of office areas 100, resulting in heat from computer terminals, smoke from ashtrays and the like which would otherwise be trapped under the shelf elements. 114

  and other higher storage areas (see Figure 1) is eli-

  mined from the workspace to the bedroom.

  An additional air inlet 64 may be mounted below the horizontal work area 100. It is believed that the single inlet fans 60 located above the horizontal desk element are adequate to remove air from the air. Individual work space 32. The airflow driven by the fans is further provided to a single chamber exhaust fan 80 located on the top 24. The exhaust fan 80 also includes a control switch 82 but there is of course a single exhaust fan for all workspaces associated with a given central element 20. The exhaust fan 80 is directly associated with a filter means 84, preferably a filter medium adapted to remove the smoke and

particular materials of the air.

  It is commonly preferred that the inlet fans 60 for use in the individual workspaces are fans having a capacity.

  about 2 cubic meters per minute (80 cubic feet per minute). These ventures

  can be panel mount type, for example

  those commonly referred to as the Anglo-Saxon vernacular

  lateur "Muffin". The single exhaust fan 80 may be a fan with a capacity of about 16 cubic meters per minute (560 cubic feet per minute). The filter 84 is preferably at least 0.5 m2 (6 square feet) of filter material of a type which is at least 95% effective at removing particles.

  dimensions of up to 0.1 microns, thereby eliminating

  the cigarette smoke from the outlet air. A suitable material is known under the trade name "Filtreet". The life of the filter 84 will of course depend on the number of smokers and their consumption of cigarettes and the amount of dust and the quality of the installation generally. It is also possible and preferable to provide filters for individual workstations, for example carbon filters mounted immediately behind the fans which not only remove the particles but also

  - -tend - to - absorb odors such as perfumes, etc.

  Connecting devices are provided on the wall 28 of the central unit 20 to provide convenient access to the surfaces

  through the service column 30. The supply line

  Alternatively, the 110 or 220 volt normal alternation, available elsewhere at a junction box 34 on the column, is routed through normal surface-mounted plugs and outlets to a row of outlets 72, and to the switches used. to control the fans 60 and 80. It is preferred that the power supply line to the socket bank 72 be routed through a conveniently operable wire clamping hole allowing the tap array to be repositioned by the user, for example along the rear edge of the horizontal surface of the

office, if necessary.

  The various service supplies and connectors are preferably provided for normal power supply in a row of outlets 72 and also for telephone connections.

  and data processing connections to provide power to

  regulated regulation and connection capabilities for

  of data processing in each workspace.

  The regulated power supply provided is preferably a separate circuit or group of circuits which are connected only to limited number of non-inductive loads. In this way, the voltage peaks that would appear otherwise if we place or

  initially remove an inductive load on the line are removed

  born and sensitive data processing equipment is protected.

  The inductive loads may be, for example motors or electric heating means. These motors, including motor driven fans 60 and 80, are connected to the normal power lines. The regulated feed outlets 74 will preferably be clearly labeled and provided with

special connectors.

  Telephone connectors and connectors

  data communication (not shown) are also preferably

  renovations provided on the wall 28 and wired through the column 30 to a hollow ceiling. As noted above, it is possible to use a service column 30 that does not extend completely from the floor to the ceiling, instead of using a column that extends from the ceiling to the top 24 or from a hollow floor up. Service columns

  going from floor to ceiling are preferred.

  An access panel 26, provided in the wall of at least

  one of the workstations 32 can be opened, as desired.

  to change the filter 84 in the chamber. The user opens the panel 26 and reaches the inside of the central element 20. The filter is constituted substantially in the form of a bag with elastic opening allowing it to be mounted on the fan. A support structure within the bag or inner filter material prevents the bag from crashing. The access panel 26 may also be located at another location and access may be

  planned by making the top 24 liftable.

  FIG. 3 represents a variant of the embodiment

  in which a triangular central element 94 replaces the

  2 or the hexagonal element of Figure 1. In general, the central elements 20 may be of any polygonal section. The triangular device of the figure

  3 has a particular advantage in that, as is

  3, the central element can be placed entirely in one of the working areas, leaving completely free the

  rear working area 96 as defined by the partitions 22.

  Figure 3 also illustrates the use of

  The illumination element 88 may be a single lamp directed upwards, whereby the illumination towards the individual workstations is achieved. 32 is reflected on the ceiling providing an indirect lighting effect. The lamp 88

  can be wired to get started every time

  80 is powered. The lamp 88 can also be a lamp

  safety that starts when food is

  breaks. The central units 20 according to the invention are effective in providing various power supplies to the workstations, for ventilating individual workstations and also for serving as interfaces between the workstations and the HVAC system.

  of the building. No driving is necessary, but the

  However, it still individualizes ventilation requirements. As shown in FIG. 4, the windows 52 of the building 50 can be arranged so that the heating or cooling requirements of the most exposed windows 36 are different from the requirements of the stations 32 which are

  farther away from the windows 52. The central elements 20 are

  at regular intervals on the work assembly surface and only some of the areas 32 are directly exposed to

  overall ventilation path between the ventilation ducts

  54 of the building. In addition, vertical partitions between

  workstations prevent any direct air flow between

  It is therefore likely, for example on a sunny summer day, that the work stations 32 are relatively cold and the work stations 36 relatively hot. according to

  In the invention, the occupants of these workstations can operate their individual fans 60 and each of the central elements.

  Traux 20 comprises a single outlet fan 80 and a filter, whereby it can be controlled individually by the occupants of the workstations that any accumulation of heat can be rejected in the area above the general location of the rooms. posts

  working. This places the heating or cooling load

  in the general air flow path 56 between the ventilation ducts 54 of the building. In this aspect, the device according to the invention serves as an interface with the building system and also provides individual ventilation for

workstations.

  The present invention has been described in connection with particular embodiments. However, a large number of

  Further enhancements will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

  Thus, the field of the present invention is determined by the

  following claims rather than by the embodiments

particulars described.

Claims (17)

  Apparatus for ventilating and providing power connections to a subdivided workspace, this workspace comprising at least one power supply terminal, said apparatus being characterized by comprising: an enclosure (20) provided with walls (28) for enclosing at least partially the power supply terminal; a work space fan (60) mounted in a side wall of the enclosure, the work space ventilator operable to extract air from the work space to a chamber defined by the walls of the enclosure; 'pregnant; an air filter (84) mounted in one of the walls of   the enclosure, this air filter cleaning the air extracted by the ventilation   and returning air to the workspace; and at least one electrical output (72) mounted in one of the walls of the enclosure, the output providing a connection with   the electrical terminals in the enclosure.   2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an outlet fan (80) arranged to   the opposite of the fan filter in the workspace, this fan   outlet valve that can be operated to extract air from the enclosure. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a plurality of fans of work space and electrical outputs angularly distributed around of the enclosure.   4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the enclosure is, in section, a polygon, the flat faces of the polygon defining separate working areas in space working.   5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the enclosure is an elongated vertical column and the power supply terminal is located on a service column (30) disposed in the enclosure.   Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that   it also includes at least one horizontal work surface   tale (100) extending into the work space from the   girded. 7. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of work space fans and an electrical output, mounted on the flat faces of the polygon. for each of the work areas.   8. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises at least one electrical switch (62, 82) controlling the connection between the power supply and at least one of the fans of the workspace, fans   equipped with filters and electrical outputs.   9. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises electrical terminals (72) for the power supply and telephone connections (74) to electrical connections. 10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that it further comprises at least one electrical terminal (74) for a   data processing equipment.   Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the connection for the data processing equipment is   a regulated power source.   12. Central element for a workspace -to   several stations comprising a plurality of work areas dis-   placed around the central unit, the central unit comprising a central power supply terminal, characterized in that it comprises: an enclosure (20) having walls (28) substantially solid surrounding the power supply terminal;   a plurality of electrical service connections dis-   placed in the walls of the enclosure and connectable to con-   electrical service connections at said terminal; and   ventilation means including the walls of the en-   encircling a closed chamber, a plurality of vents   intake manifolds (60) disposed at the work stations and at least one exhaust fan (80) discharging air from the   the room to a common area above the workstations.   13. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises a filter means (84) disposed in the enclosure, the output fan forcing air to pass through the filter means. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that   service connections include tele-   sound, power supply and data processing.   Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that   it further comprises a plurality of electrical switches   connected tags for independent control of connections   service to each of the workstations.   16. Apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the enclosure is closed for air circulation from   sources and evacuations other than   and the exhaust fan.   17. Apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that the electrical service connections supplying the enclosure   are mounted on a central column.